Firearm hammer



May 23, 1939. w. KING 2,159,527

FIREARM HAMMER Filgd July 10. 1937 INVENTOR, DEAN w. KING.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 23, 1939 2,159,527 FIREARM HAMMER Dean W. King, San Mateo, Calif.

Application July 10, 1937, Serial No. 152,970

2 Claims.

This invention relates to hammers for firearms, and particularly to pistol and revolver hammers, and its primary purpose is to provide a hammer which will enable the arm to be easily and 5 positively cocked by the thumb of the user, and without the necessity for either slipping the thumb over the hammer surface or rolling the arm, which latter expedient throws the sight off of the target.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent or will be specifically pointed out in the description forming a part of this specification, but I do not limit myself to the embodiment of the invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a portion of a revolver embodying this invention, and

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of a revolver so equipped.

The nature and advantages of my invention can best be understood by considering first the actions of cocking and shooting a side-arm when equipped with the ordinary type of hammer. The pistol is aimed and fired with the grip I held in the palm of the hand, with the thumb lying along the side of the grip and projected generally towards the trigger-guard 2. After firing, the thumb is moved up to the thumb piece 3 30 of the hammer 4, and the hammer is brought back into the cocked position.

There are several possible modifications of this latter movement. Perhaps the most natural position for the thumb is almost exactly parallel to the plane of the hammer, with the ball of the thumb against the thumb piece. If this method be used the thumb rolls along the thumb piece as the hammer is drawn back, in which case the tip of the thumb will either catch at the top of the hammer at the point indicated by the reference character 5, interfering with the motion, or else the thumb must be permitted to slip on the thumb piece as the hammer is retracted, which is dangerous. The third alternative from this position is to catch the extreme tip of the thumb piece on the ball of the thumb at the start of the cocking action, giving a precarious grip which, however, improves as the hammer is drawn back and the thumb rolls forward upon the thumb piece.

In order to avoid the dangers of the methods just described, marksmen are taught to roll the weapon. In this operation the arm is tilted outwardly, the last joint of the thumb is laid laterally across the thumb piece, and the thumb is retracted with a motion which simultaneously draws back the hammer, rolling the ball of the thumb laterally across the thumb piece, and at the same time erects the Weapon, bringing it again into a vertical position so that it may be sighted and fired properly. This method has the advantage of safety and positiveness, but it also has the disadvantage that the weapon is tilted and the sights are thrown off of the target.

My invention comprises a lug or spur 'i, of the same general profile as the thumb piece, but

projecting laterally from one side thereof.

cocking the thumb is placed nearly parallel to the plane of the hammer, but on the inner side thereof. As the hammer is drawn back the thumb rolls along the lug, giving a positive grip at all times without any catching or slipping.

I prefer to make the lug project on only one side of the hammer, as is shown. This requires that different hammers be used for right or lefthanded shooters.

It is clear, however, that the hammer may be provided with a lug on each side for those who shoot with either hand.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pistol having a frame,

a hammer mounted on said frame and comprising a body including a head, a thumb piece extending backward and upward from said head, and a lug extending laterally from said thumb piece and forming an extension thereof beyond the plane of the body of said hammer, said lug being spaced from said frame to permit the thumb of the user to engage said lug with a rolling motion without striking said frame.

2. In combination with a pistol having a frame, a hammer mounted on said frame and comprising a body including a head, a thumb piece extending backward and upward from said head, and a lug extending laterally from said thumb piece and forming an extension thereof beyond the plane of the body of said hammer, on one side only, said lug being spaced from said frame to permit the thumb of the user to engage said lug with a rolling motion without striking said frame.

DEAN W. KING. 

